Kraven

@JRM9 Imagine being this mad at a free update for existing owners.

One of my favorite games of all time. I’m looking forward to revisiting the Old West again.

@johnedwin On OpenCritic it’s at 82% which is good. Sure, you can have higher expectations, but what expectations did you have? Did you really expect Metroid to reinvent the wheel for the genre, or were you expecting more of the same? It’s a double edged sword. If anyone is familiar with the Prime games, it’s essentially a FPS-Halo-like. That type of gameplay may feel outdated now—not bad, but generic, all things considered—but it’s classic Metroid. And all of the typical trappings for Metroid are present here. I don’t really see how people are bent out of shape for having high expectations that nobody ever seems to elaborate on.

I guess for people an 80% average is not good. Good lord. I understand that people have higher expectations for a Nintendo first party IP, but it’s obviously not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination.

I have no idea why people were so concerned—I had no doubt, and I’m glad my feelings are justified. I can’t wait!

Looks like it’s getting better. I hope it plays well in handheld because that’s my preferred method of gaming. To me, I feel if CP2077 can run smooth as hell with incredible graphics on the switch 2, so can Elden Ring.

I’m stoked this game turned out well! It’s finally able to be purchased on the eShop, so I have it downloaded and ready to play while on my lunch break at work today.

This month is packed for me. Marvel Cosmic Invasion (releases today), Red Dead Redemption Switch 2 update is tomorrow, and Metroid Prime 4 in a couple of days. And with Terminator releasing soon as well, I’ll be swamped with a handful of potentially great games for the holiday.

@Anti-Matter More power to you. I buy all my games digitally and prefer it that way, but it’s cool to see someone stick to their guns on the issue.

I would like to eventually pick this up, but I’m afraid that I’ll get overwhelmed by the amount of meaningless bloat there is, or find the dialogue poorly written, and turn the game off. Maybe once it’s on sale for 20 dollars I might bite the bullet. It does look great.

Hello, Night City!

That’s right, chooms, I’m back in the city. My name is V, and I’m a katana wielding, net-running street-kid specialist, and brain-dancing my way to solving issues my way.

Seriously, though, Cyberpunk 2077 is peak gaming. I spent over 100 hours in the PS5 version, and got the platinum. I don’t know what compelled me to return to this world, but I’ve heard nothing but positives about the Nintendo Switch 2 version so I decided to buy it and see for myself.

This isn’t hyperbole—it’s an absolute jaw dropping experience. I’ve been playing exclusively on handheld and feel more immersed than previously before. I’m truly blown away by how well it runs, the graphics, and silky smooth gameplay. From here on out this should be the gold standard for future ports to this system, and it’s a testament to how good the S2 can be if given proper treatment.

It’s times like these where I’m glad graphics and frame rate don’t bother me. I’ve been playing this game exclusively on handheld and it has been fantastic for me. Granted, there are areas for improvement, but my experience hasn’t been hampered by any issues the game has.

I won’t be tuning in. The release date is so close that it doesn’t even make sense to spoil my own experience early.

Great review. I have to agree with your sentiments completely. I’ve been having a blast with this game. I really hope the subsequent games in the series gets ported.

Looks like it’s the perfect time to jump back in and do a replay. I hope it will eventually have a Switch 2 upgrade—along with all the Xenoblade games—but this is satisfying enough for me.

This is peak. I am stoked for this to release!

Well, at least that shows Nintendo has some level of confidence in the game!

This past month has been quite the rollercoaster of emotions. I mentioned several weeks ago I totaled my car and broke my back. I’m slowly recovering, but yesterday my mother-in-law passed away. As me and my wife’s pastor said, we are going through a season.

In terms of what I’ve been playing, I’m still captivated by Hades 2. So far, I’ve completed approximately 75 nights — or runs, rather — and have defeated the “final boss” a handful of times. I use quotations because there is a ton of game here that I don’t want to spoil the surprise(s) in the culmination of events.

In addition, one of my most anticipated games of the last few years finally released: Demonschool. Unfortunately, I’m massively disappointed with my experience. I didn’t have unrealistic expectations, or presumed it would be on par with Persona, albeit pixelated, but the writing is astonishingly bland and generic. And the characters are one dimensional, with the life-sim aspects spent between characters never really evolving into something worth caring for.

On another note, Tomb Raider Definitive Edition shadow dropped for the Switch and I immediately picked it up. There is something whimsical about playing a sprawling adventure exploring a mysterious island, uncovering lost tombs, discovering diaries and treasures, while in portable mode. And honestly, as much as I thoroughly enjoyed it back in 2014, it’s even better than I remember.

Lastly, Stalker 2, one of my favorite games of last year released on the PS5 a couple of days ago. I figured since I’m mentally in a state of depression why not go full throttle and immerse myself into a post apocalyptic Chernobyl exclusion zone where it’s a struggle to survive.

Happy soon to be Thanksgiving, everybody!

This is day one for me—it looks awesome, and if it’s anything like the original Vampire Survivors, it’ll be just as addicting.

I’ve played the first two hours so far and it’s been great. I’m playing handheld only (Switch 2) and it runs flawlessly. There are a few texture pop-ins, but nothing to really stand out. I’m very pleased with the experience so far. There is something about playing an adventure, finding treasure, reading lost diaries/notes, that feels perfect for portable play.

I’ve never played a Tales game other than Arise, but from what I understand, Berseria is one of the better titles in the franchise. I think I’ll pick this up and see what it’s all about.

@Friendly NG4 did get nominated for action.

What a surprise shadow drop—totally unexpected. I’ll be picking this up on my Switch 2 for sure.

Thank god this game turned out well. I’ll be buying it ASAP tomorrow and can’t wait to play.

@Friendly Interesting take. What game(s) would you add to the list that aren’t on there, on any category. For GoTY, there are several games that are on multiple platforms, and Hades 2 and Donkey Kong are only on Switch (unless you want to count PC).

I think Clair Obscur Expedition 33 should and will win, but I won’t be mad if any of the games on that list win. Silksong and Hades 2 are masterclasses in their respective genre.

I’ll for sure be picking this up once the Switch 2 upgrade comes out. I’m fine with it not having an open ended nature — I enjoy a good linear tailored experience, even in Hitman.

This weekend my time is spent obsessing on Hades 2. I played this quite a bit when it released on the Switch, but I got burned out during the 20-hour mark and took a lengthy break. I’m now 50+ hours deep and won’t be pausing any time soon.

It may sound embarrassing, but I have yet to complete a single run, but I’m okay with that due to its rich story strong narrative and characters. It’s truly astonishing that this game can have so much content. I’ve yet to encounter a single repeated line of dialogue between character interactions, and each person is fully developed, with excellent voice acting to provide an extra layer of immersion.

To simply put, Hades 2 is easily going into my pantheon of exceptional games, possibly in the top five. I’m not sure how Supergiant exceeded expectations, but they are a master of their craft. Every game they make is top tier, and better than the last. I can’t wait to see their next project. Until then, welcome to the GoTY discussion my indie darling.

And I’m now patiently waiting for one of my most anticipated games in years: Demonschool. Only a few more days to go.

@GravyThief If one single instance is going to ruin your entire experience then I think about expectations need to change, but to each their own.

@GravyThief That’s fair, but you are making the assumption that a presumably 20 hour long game is going to have non-stop talking NPCs throughout its entire length. Granted, that may be the case, but from the gameplay trailers there seems to be the same feeling of isolation.

So, basically, people are letting NPCs ruin what is ostensibly a classic Metroid Prime experience. I’m not saying the NPC chatter won’t be annoying, but it won’t detract from what I believe the core experience will be.

These comments remind me why I should avoid social sites sometimes. It is beyond rare to find a community that is happy or positive about anything. Any kind of inconvenience gets blown out of proportion, and a game is the worst thing to ever be made until the next big game releases and doesn’t meet unreal expectations created by ourselves and/or wishful thinking. All you read on Twitter is how Ghost of Yōtei is a massive failure because it’s only sold 3.3 million copies so far, despite that actually being a successful number and a high review score across the board. But gamers will have you believe otherwise because that is what people do nowadays, and I guess always have, but it’s been amplified over the last couple of years. Honestly, the gaming community can be exhausting—and yes, I understand the irony of my comment.

I think this trailer was perfect, and gives players the most in-depth analysis on what we can expect. I, for one, am beyond hyped. I’m looking forward to having classic Metroid along with some additions that might expand to future titles. I don’t expect it to be all bells and whistles—there will most definitely be sections that aren’t as great as others, but I appreciate the risk. I have no doubt this will be great.

Absolum, Hades 2, Ball x Pit, Pipistrello, Clair Obscur, and Silksong are all top tier games for me. I won’t be mad at whatever game wins. It’s a good reminder that this year has been stacked with brilliant games.

My goodness, this is a nice Christmas present! Hopefully we will get a RDR2 port at some point.

I picked up the Yakuza bundle today. For $50.00, I think it’s a good deal—they are excellent games. I am also going to buy Demonschool. It has been one of my most anticipated games for years.

@Thorgaer I am in the exact same boat that you are. I’ve been swapping between Absolum and Hades 2, and I can’t stop playing either title. I also have MP4 preordered and ready to go.

Good! The human element is the most important aspect in media. Also, I cannot wait for this game. I’ve been waiting for a few years for it, so rest assured it’ll be a day one purchase.

This game rules. It’ll be a perfect addition for the Switch 2. I’ll be all over this once it releases.

Glad to see it turned out well. Yakuza 0 is one of my favorite games of all time, and 1&2 (Kiwami) are excellent games as well. I’ve yet to play 3-6, but I can’t wait to finally dive into those games at some point soon.

I’m glad there is a demo for this; I’ll be checking it out for sure. I don’t know why, but I’m not really that interested in this game despite Octopath Traveler 2 being one of my favorite RPGs in recent memory.

I’m always welcome for new updates! Thanks for the heads up, and bullet points.

I haven’t played much, but what I have has been surprising. For a Musuo game it is quite impressive. I’m looking forward to playing more. As of right now I’d rate it an 8/10.

Yes, the game is difficult, but it’s manageable. There doesn’t need to be options. This is the game they wanted to make.

I really enjoyed this game back in the day despite its flaws. In fact, I remember reading about it because it was the cover story for GameInformer magazine.

Last week I talked about totaling my car. Since then I hadn’t missed a day of work despite being in pain. I finally went to the doctor yesterday because of the persistent headaches and back issues. It turns out that I have two compression fractures on my vertebrae, so that’s why my mobility has been difficult. Now onto the games!

I beat Dragon Quest 1 from the remake double package. It was excellent, albeit too long. That may sound peculiar considering the game can be beaten in approximately ten to twelve hours, but it drags on extensively near the end.

As of right now I’m starting to prefer games that don’t require a lot of brainpower. To be specific, rouge-likes such as Ball x Pitt, Absolum, and Hades 2. I don’t have the mental fortitude to play The Outer Worlds 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta, Silent Hill F, and more in my ever growing backlog.

Along with my mindless rogue-likes, I earnestly started Shinobi: Art of Vengeance on my Switch 2. Holy moly; this is everything I’ve wanted in my 2D action platformers. Here I thought Ninja Gaiden Ragebound — a game I got the platinum for — was top tier, and whilst it is great, Joe Musashi blows it out of the water.

For starters, it’s arguably the most gorgeous 2D side scroller I’ve ever played. The artwork is stunning in every facet with no weak detail at all, whether that’s the backdrops, character animations, cutscene transitions with dialogue boxes, and enemy designs. It all blends together to create an aesthetically pleasing experience.

Furthermore, it is a contained package that has all the goods: secret areas, combat challenges, collectibles, upgrades, and replayability. What impresses me the most is that it’s not a mere left-to-right platformer. There are several nonlinear locations littered throughout each map and you can choose which stages to tackle first. In addition, the levels themselves aren’t short. There is a Metroidvania element as you obtain new abilities that allow you to replay maps with different routes.

The game really shines in its action. There are many ways to approach combat, with a wide arsenal of abilities to expand how you tackle enemies. Combat has a real weight to it as well—you can feel every hit on the baddies. But the game isn’t easy and can pose a real challenge if you aren’t careful as you’ll face numerous enemies at once with their own unique move-sets.

When you get into a rhythm, however, it feels like you’re dancing in a ballet. Mix that in with tight platforming, fun levels with various means of traversal, a bolstering soundtrack that keeps you engaged from the start, and you have a recipe of pure adrenaline fueled bliss. Shinobi is back, and better than ever.

Absolum is such an incredible game. Somehow, the beat-em-up genre is perfect for rougelike. Oh, and I started playing Hades 2 again this morning, and sucked back in to its addicting gameplay loop and story.

Man, if only FFXVI sold more than a disappointingly 3 million copies in one week this catastrophe would’ve been avoided …

I really like Double Dragon, but they’ve had more misses than combo hit. Just give this series to Dotemu/Lizardcube, or let it die already.

@Bolt_Strike Okay, fair enough - I can’t guarantee with 100% certainty. With that said, we have seen several gameplay sections (bike not included) that looks like classic Metroid, especially with its environments, scanning enemies, and gunplay. I would be shocked if this new Metroid would take a drastic departure to what made this franchise so seminal. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. I guess we can only wait and see.